What is this??

Truman and EisenhowerTruman and Eisenhower

Harry S TrumanHarry S TrumanHarry S TrumanHarry S Truman

President from 1945 to 1952

FDR’s vice president and took over when FDR died in office

Made the decision to use atomic weapons to end WWII

Truman Doctrine - containing communism

President from 1945 to 1952

FDR’s vice president and took over when FDR died in office

Made the decision to use atomic weapons to end WWII

Truman Doctrine - containing communism

Public’s main fear in 1945 was that the depression would return now that the war was over

The GI Bill was created to put money into the economy by giving educational and financial assistance to veterans

Inflation increased and labor unions demanded higher wages and began to strike

Public’s main fear in 1945 was that the depression would return now that the war was over

The GI Bill was created to put money into the economy by giving educational and financial assistance to veterans

Inflation increased and labor unions demanded higher wages and began to strike

Congress passes the Taft-Hartley Act that limited the labor union’s power

Truman vetoed the bill, saying it’s “bad for labor, bad for management, and bad for the country”

The Republican congress overrode the veto

Congress passes the Taft-Hartley Act that limited the labor union’s power

Truman vetoed the bill, saying it’s “bad for labor, bad for management, and bad for the country”

The Republican congress overrode the veto

1948 Election1948 Election

Both the right and left wings of the democratic party split off and nominated their own presidential candidates

Progressive Party - thought Truman was too soft on communism (Henry Wallace)

Dixiecrats - did not want federal interference in race relations (no civil rights) (Strom Thurmond)

Both the right and left wings of the democratic party split off and nominated their own presidential candidates

Progressive Party - thought Truman was too soft on communism (Henry Wallace)

Dixiecrats - did not want federal interference in race relations (no civil rights) (Strom Thurmond)

Dewey was projected to win, but Truman managed a remarkable victory after waging an incredibly effective campaign.

Fair Deal LiberalismFair Deal Liberalism Truman proposed a plan to Congress that would

give the people the right to a job, adequate medical care, a good education, social security and increased civil rights

He called it the “Fair Deal” Congress only passed the increases in minimum

wage, social security and low-income housing Special interest groups blocked many advancements The Korean War took away funds

Truman proposed a plan to Congress that would give the people the right to a job, adequate medical care, a good education, social security and increased civil rights

He called it the “Fair Deal” Congress only passed the increases in minimum

wage, social security and low-income housing Special interest groups blocked many advancements The Korean War took away funds

Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. Eisenhower Elected in 1952 Nixon was VP Truman did not run for

a second term Sought a middle

ground between liberalism and conservatism Dynamic Conservatism

Elected in 1952 Nixon was VP Truman did not run for

a second term Sought a middle

ground between liberalism and conservatism Dynamic Conservatism

Public WorksPublic Works

Increased minimum wage to $1 per hour

Created Department of Health, Education and Welfare

Passed the Interstate Highway Act of 1956 ($26 billion!!)

Increased minimum wage to $1 per hour

Created Department of Health, Education and Welfare

Passed the Interstate Highway Act of 1956 ($26 billion!!)

Affluent SocietyAffluent Society

Many Americans, especially whites, moved to home ownership in new suburban communities

Economic expansion = Domestic prosperity Rapidly growing middle class

Many Americans, especially whites, moved to home ownership in new suburban communities

Economic expansion = Domestic prosperity Rapidly growing middle class

AFL - CIOAFL - CIO In 1955, the Congress of Industrial

Organizations joined its old enemy, the American Federation of Labor

Represented 90% of the nation’s union workers Labor peace (no strikes) Cost of living pay increases

Consumer spending soared

In 1955, the Congress of Industrial Organizations joined its old enemy, the American Federation of Labor

Represented 90% of the nation’s union workers Labor peace (no strikes) Cost of living pay increases

Consumer spending soared

SuburbsSuburbs Returning veterans

faced a housing shortage Solution was to mass-

produce houses in suburbs

Arthur Levitt was the creator of Levittown, NY - the first subdivision Restrictive covenants

prohibiting blacks!

Returning veterans faced a housing shortage Solution was to mass-

produce houses in suburbs

Arthur Levitt was the creator of Levittown, NY - the first subdivision Restrictive covenants

prohibiting blacks!

Tomorrow: Consumer Culture

Tomorrow: Consumer Culture